Shank iron



July 6,1926., I 1,591,416

R. DAVIS SHANK RON Filed 001. 5,. 1923 ROBERT mns INVENTOR A Patented Julyl 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES ROBERT DAVIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHANK IRON.

Application led October 5, 1923. Serial No. 866,668.

to attach a shoe-shank to the sole of a par-y tially completed shoe.

According to the present invention, a shoe-shank of the general type, comprising a reenforced leather member, is superposed on the arch in a shoe after the upper has been sewn to the sole. The position assumed by the shank brings the forward end well up towards the tot` and under the overhanging vamp of the upper, and as a consequence it is very difficult to insert a yfastening means in the forepart of the shank and still more difficult to drive the fastenin means through the shank and into the solge. lThe application of an adhesive between the adjacent faces of the shank and sole assists in holding the former in position while the operator insertsand secures the fastening means, usually a flat headed tack, into the sole, but nevertheless the operation is still diflicult and uncertain and results in many shoes being turned out having the toe of the shank loosely resting on the soley beneath the insole.

With the foregoing in mind it is the purpose of the present invention to overcome the diiiicult operation of using tacks as fastening means for the shank and insole; and I accomplish this purpose by providing the reenforcing member of the shank with integral engaging teeth which are driven di.- rectly into the insole when the shank is adjusted to its correct position upon lthe arch of the shoe.

The invention therefore, brieiiy stated, refers to a shank-iron of .the types which are disclosed in my co-pending applications, -Serial Numbers 655,194 and 666,667 (which latter. application has matured into Patent Number 1,545,087, dated July 7, 1925)v which comprise forked ends providing tapered prongs adapted to be clenched over the shank material and engaging teeth projecting in the opposite direction from the forked ends to engage the shoe insole.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe embodying my improved means for attaching the shoe-shank to the sole; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a shank-iron showing the engaging teeth disposed at opposite ends thereof; Figure 3 is an end View of a shankiron; Figures 4 and i5 are side elevational views of a shank showing the depending integral attaching means applied to different forms of shank-irons.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, 10 designates the sole of a shoe and 11 the upper. The sole is curved upwardly at its mid portionl to form the arch 12, and superposed over the arch is a shoe shank 13, which comprises a leather piece having a rear portion 14 cut to fit the heel of the shoe and a downwardly curved forward portion 15 adapted to rest upon the arch and extend to a point slightly in ad- Vance thereof. y

rI"he shoe shank 13 is further provided with a reenforcing shank iron 16 comprising a narrow bowed strip of metal having a longitudinal rib separatedv into sections 17 by means of transverse ribs 18 which give the necessary resiliency to the iron. In the form of iron shown in Figure 5 there is. only one resilient rib disposed in the mid por-- tion thereof. Inrboth modifications the ends of the iron are split to provide two outside prongs 19 and an inside prong or engaging means 20. The outside prongs are bent upwardly at an angle to the plane of the iron and the inside prong is bent downwardly in a direction opposite to that of the pron s 19. To enable the inside prong 20 to firmly engage in the sole of the shoe the shoe iron is provided with barbs 21, as shown clearly in Figure`3.v

In operation, the shank constructed in accordance with my invention is merely placed in position within the shoe and the shoelast inserted, whereupon the depending en gaging members or prongs 20 are forced into the adjacent material of the sole 1() and the barbs prevent them from being drawn outwardly again. It is to be particularly noted that Shanks attached in this manner retain the same degree of freedom to adjust themselves to the arch beneath the instep of the wearer as shanks attached hy tacks or other separate fastening means.

What I claim is A shank-iron comprising a plate provided at each end with outside prongs adapted to clench over a shoe shank and anintermediate prong adapted to be driven into a shoe sole.

In testimony whereof I have aixed my signature. A

ROBERT DAVIS, 

